Weekend March 27-28.....the Wildflower course

This weekend the team went camping to the Wildflower course, so we actually got to see and feel the course.

On Saturday we woke up early and drove to the lake for the swimming session. I arrived late (as usual), but managed to get on the water and complete the 1.5 kms in 30 mins sharp. Not bad given that I had breakfast 15 minutes before and I started cramping when jumped in the cold water.

Swimming done. Now ahead of me I had a 40 kms bike ride in Wildflower brutal hills......okay, the "brutal" is a bit exaggerated but the ride was quite steep (altough nothing compared to my training facilities, Berkeley´s North Hills). My guess is that I completed the circuit in about 1 hour and 30 mins. I don't know for sure because I spent 25 very nice minutes talking to the folks in the aid station......

Yes, i felt the pain on the afternoon. I was tired as hell and my body ache a bit in some private and not-so-private areas.....I had a great nap and enjoyed the sketches prepared by the San Francisco and East Bay team. We also got to hear from some of the people that have had leukemia or lymphoma and that are training for a triathlon. Wow. These folks are one of a kind.

After the sketches we gathered around the fire, one of the guys cooked some oysters that he brought and we all had a couple of beers. By 10:30 pm I was in my sleeping bag. Needless to say, I slept like a baby

Sunday morning we packed our stuff and went for a 10 km run, which I did in 50 minutes. Now, after the run, my body did start really complaining. It didn't matter because I have done the race track and will be ready to destroy it on May 1st.

My training ground.....

The Berkeley Death Ride....

The proof......

so you see this is serious...

Saturday, March 13, 2010--First Open Water Swim

So, there I go to Shadow Cliffs, Pleasanton for our first open water swim! We also get our new wetsuits. Coach Cindy has recommended that we wear two -or three- swimming caps because it is going to be very cold......my God, I am used to swim in the nice calm and warm waters of the Mexican Pacific ocean....

So, I get on my wetsuit....I look like a skinny sausage (I promise to upload a picture later) and start walking towards the lake/pond.

When my feet touch the water I cannot beleive how cold it is. As I go in my whole body starts getting really cold......until the water reached my waist....oh yes, a little pee works wonder! (actuallt, everybody does that, so don't think I am some kind of nasty human being)

Now comes the moment of truth...open your suit at the neck and let the water actually flow through your chest and back.....my god, it feels awful, awful, awful. As a reference, a hot tub temperature is around 40 degrees celcius, a regular swimming pool is heated at around 28. The water at Shadow Cliffs was around 16-20 degrees.

By this moment I cannot feel my feet and my hands are absolutely numb. We get the instructions from the coach and start swimming. I feel some anxiety because I cannot see anything underwater, the water is completely opaque. Also,the coldness of the water makes me feel confused, like I didn't know where I was.

After a couple of minutes I actually started feeling much better, got warmer and actually enjoyed the training. Cold water has this effect on a person's body. At the beginning you really hate it, but after you get use to it, it becomes quite an enjoyable experience.

After finishing the swim workout and taking off the suit we went for a quick 20 minute run. While changing in the bathroom I was talking to one of the coaches and he told me that the water was incredibly cold, more so than the San Francisco Bay! (the guy has done the Escape from Alcatraz Tri a couple of times)

The run was quick and easy. However, I didn't put a jacket or sweatshirt after finishing and on the wya home I started feeling some discomfort on my throat.....yes I am getting old. I actually missed Sunday training because I got a cold after swimming in a cold pond.

Monday, March 08, 2010--rest

Today, thankfully is rest day. After yesterday's brutal climb and Saturday's not-so-nice swim and run my body feels a bit "tense" -to say the least- My right butt hurts more than my left one (that tricky bike....), my neck is as stiff as a pencil and my legs (chicken, of course) tremble when walking up the stairs.

Couple of donations today. Thanks to tios Sergio & Chiquis and to Jana.

Sunday, March 7, 2010--Captain's ride

Wake up at 7:20 after Lola's birthday party and Saturday's hard workout. Drive again to Orinda for Sunday bike ride.

We went to the Redwood Regional Park, which is on top of Oakland hills and has one of the most beautiful views of the Bay Area. The ride was quite steep at the beginning, but totally worth it. Here is the total mileage and inclination. Make sure you click on "view elevation" link so you can see how steep this ride was.



This route is the most beautiful bike ride I have ever done. You ride along huge redwood trees so dense that block the sunlight (yes, it is cold) in a quite narrow road with beautiful views of Oakland, Berkeley and San Francisco.

Saturday, March 6, 2010--Swim and Run

Wake up at 6:45, grab quick breakfast and drive to Orinda for Saturday workout. Saturdays are always tough because you are carrying the work from all week plus is the day the workout is tougher.

The pool was not as warm as the TNT coaches made us believe, but anyhow, couple of swims and you start getting warm. The swam around 1500 meters, some at level 3 effort (mild) and some at level 8 (can u pick up my lungs please?).

After the swim we went for a 5 mile run. Five miles is not that bad, except when two of those miles are quite steep......bu the time I finished, my two powerful chicken legs were trembling like crazy....and on Sunday I had to go biking.

Sunday, February 21, 2010

Wake up at 7:00 am on a Sunday... you have to be kidding me. Another 20 minutes, please... I have Matias (my cat) on the head, Lola (my wife) completely asleep , the bed is really warm and outside... its raining. "Cycling probably is cancelled on rainy days, I thought"... I got off bed had a quick breakfast, put on my super Peter Pan tights and drove to Tilden Regional Park http://www.ebparks.org/parks/tilden

View Larger Map

The TNT group met in the parking lot at the very top of Skyline Blvd on the beautiful Berkeley/Oakland hills It was indeed raining and quite cold. After some inicial instructions we went on and started biking towards Berkeley. During the first 25 minutes the inclination was quite moderate, with almost no palpable discomfort in the legs.

After Skyline Blvd makes a sharp turn to the right, things started getting a bit more complicated with the inclination increasing constantly until it comes to a quite uncomfortable point. However, this only last for 10-15 minutes. Once we get to the intersection with Highway 24 we make a u-turn and enjoy the lovely downhill run.

One hour after our departure from the parking lot we come back with our bodies completely wet and cold, but very happy of having conquered the always challenging Berkeley hills!